Hand knitting or crocheting device



Jan. 13, 1948. y A. coFFEY 2,434,609

' HANDw KNITTING OR CROCETING DEVICE Filed Feb. 2:5. Y1946 //V VfA/oR A#Intesa yf/ A l Patented Jan. 13, 1948 HAND KNITTING OR CROCHETINGDEVICE Anne Coffey, New York, N. Y., assigner to Coiey Creations, Inc.,New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 23,1946, Serial No. 649,607

3 Claims.

This invention relates t hand knitting and crocheting devices.

The average person, in knitting garments, stockings, and other articles,holds a knitting needle in each hand and draws the yarn from one hand tothe other, the yarn from a ball of yarn being usually wrapped in one ormore turns on, say, a nger of the hand to maintain a desired tension onthe yarn as it is picked up by the needle to which it is directed.However, diiculty is frequently experienced in maintaining the desiredtension on the yarn and unevenness in the stitch results.

One object of this invention is an instrumentality which will enable aconstant tension t0 be maintained on the yarn.

Another object of the invention is a yarn tensioning device which may becarried on the hand without inconvenience while knitting.

It is also an object of the invention to eliminate the wrapping orturning of a length of the yarn about the fingers.

A further object of the invention is to automatically control thetransit of yarn or thread from the hand of the knitter or crocheter tothe contact point of the stitch on the needle or needles.

More particularly, the invention seeks to control the tension of theyarn adjacent to the point of stitch on the needles, so that thestitching is evenly placed and knitted or crocheted.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an exact controlof the stitch, as distinguished from the otherwise variable control bythe fingers which results in loose, tight or uneven knitting orcrocheting depending on the skill of the operator, knitter or crocheter.

A further object of the invention is a device in which any kind ofthread or yarn, or strand of plastic material may be used.

Still another object of the invention is a hand knitting device whichwill control the tension of strands from the finest to the thickeststrand whether of yarn, thread or of plastic strands.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for theirattainment will be more apparent from the following detaileddescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,illustrating one embodiment by which the invention may be realized, andin which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view showing the component elements of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective showing the yarn tensioning device ofthis invention in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a view showing how the invention is used in the hand inknitting; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the position of the deviceof this invention in use.

Referring rst to Fig. 1, the components of the hand knitting orcrocheting device comprises a support, for instance a spindle 5 formedwith a transverse slot l0 in its upper end and whereof the forked ends lI are shown formed with threads I4 intermediate the upper ends I6 andthe bottom I8 of the slot Il?. Intermediate the bottom I8 of the slotlll and the lower threaded stud 20 of the spindle 5, the spindle isprovided with a cylindrical portion 22 of greater diameter whichprovides an upwardly facing shoulder 24 and the lower end of the spindleis again reduced in diameter as at 2l) and the reduced portion 20 isformed with threads 28.

Resting on the shoulder 24 is an inverted saucer-like yarn guide 4 whichsupports an upwardly facing yarn guide member 3 (see also Fig. 2). Theabutting surfaces of these two members, 3 and 4, define a rotatableyieldable clamp 3B through which the yarn passes and by which the yarnis tensioned. The dished annular yarn guides, 3 and 4, have openings 34that t down over the forked end H of spindle 5 and permit yarn guide lto rest on shoulder 24. A coil spring 2, or other expandable means,rests upon the upper face of yarn guide 3, the bottom of the coilresting in the annular depression 33 of the upper yarn guide 3. Whenassembled, the lower yarn guide 4 rests on the shouldei` 24 and, inaddition, on its upper face, supports the yarn guide 3.

Adjustable compression of the spring '2 by the nut l maintains the yarnguides 3 and 4 yieldingly in contact with one another whereby a threador yarn may be yieldingly held between the yarn guides, as shown in Fig.2. Obviously, other suitable yarn tensioning devices yieldingly passingthe yarn are equally within the purview of this invention.

A structure, which may be similar to one of the yarn guides 3 or 4 mayserve as a palm engaging member 6 which is placed over the threaded stud20 and is held in position against the bottom of the cylindrical portion22, as by the nut 1 or other suitable retaining means.

When the parts are assembled, as in the Fig. 2 disclosure, and ready foruse, the palm engaging member 6 is held against the palm of the one handwith the spindle 5 passing outwardly between two ngers, say, the firstand second iingers of the one hand, and so that the two yarn guides 3and 4 are outwardly of the back of the hand where they are pressedtoward one another by the spring 2. Tension of the spring to place thedesired tension on the thread or yarn is'effected by screwing down thenut l to compress the spring, as desired, against the upper yarn guide3, although other means of accomplishing control of the tension may beavailed of. The yarn is yieldingly gripped between the yarn guides 3 and4 and the yarn can be vreadily drawn through the yarn guides, the yarnguides eecting the desired tension on the yarn as it is drawn through inknitting or crocheting.

It will be understood that the hand knitting or crocheting device ofthis invention'is mostconveniently held in the hand with the shaftportion 22 between the index nger and the second finger of either hand,as shown in Fig. 3, and maintains its place by spring pressure withoutany conscious effort on the part of the knitter or crocheter.Furthermore, the same-spring 2 controls the pressure of the yarn orthread in transit to the needle.

The end of the yarn or thread from a ball of yarn or thread is placedthrough and between the two yarn guides Aand .the tension required foreach transit between or through the yarn guides is 'adjusted byturningpressure nut I to compress the spring. This setsthe required tension forknitting or crocheting the kind of thread or yarn being used. Knittingor crocheting proceeds after placing portion 22 of the device betweenthe index finger and the second finger of either hand, as shown in Fig.3, and then attaching the yarn to the needles 9 and SB and proceeding asin the accepted manner of knitting or crocheting, as shown in Fig. 3.

What is claimed is:

1. A hand knitting and crocheting device comprising a shaft formed withan axial slot, a prtion of the shaft formed with the slot beingthreaded, yarn guides comprising, respectively, plane centra] surfacesand dish-shaped yarn guiding surfaces, a spring to urge the yarn guidesinto contact with one another, and a, nut-like member to control thetension of the spring.

2. A hand knitting and crocheting device comprising a shaft, yarn guidescomprising, respectively, 'plane central surfaces and annular yarnguiding surfaces, a spring to urge the yarn guides into contact with oneanother, a, nut-like member to control the tension of the spring, athreaded pin on the opposite end of the shaft, a dishshaped disc on thethreaded pin, and a nut to retain the disc on the shaft.

.retain the -disc on the shaft comprising nger gripping means.

ANNE COFFEY.

REFER-ENOES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Number Name Date 2,147,275 Wachsman Feb. 14,1939 2,313,684 Thulin Mar. 9, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date`126,678 Great Britain Apr. 8, 1935

